Page "Pope Telesphorus" Paragraph 1

Telesphorus is traditionally reckoned as being the seventh Roman bishop in succession after Saint Peter.

The Liber Pontificalis mentions that he had been an anchorite ( or hermit ) monk prior to assuming office.

According to the testimony of Irenæus ( Against Heresies III. 3. 3 ), he suffered a " glorious " martyrdom.

Although most early popes are called martyrs by sources such as the Liber Ponificalis, Telesphorus is the first to whom Ireneaus, writing considerably earlier, gives this title.